Camera 1
366 S. 1st Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
366 S. 1st Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
7 people
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The Camera One theatre was opened by Shaw International Theatres, Inc on August 7th, 1970, with “The Walking Stick”. Grand opening ad posted.
The last time I was at the Camera One, was for the 2001 Cinequest festival.
The theater often showed more than just double features in the 1970s and ‘80s. I loved triple features for more bang for the buck. For example, “the worst Science fiction movies” triple feature, which had “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” “Astro Zombies”, and “Killer Tomatoes.” When Peter Sellers died (1980), I they played a triple feature there of his films, including “Pink Panther” and I think “Dr. Strangelove”, ending with “Being There”, whose ending was particularly poignant given his recent loss. Theater was almost always full, at least when I went.
I grew up here with my Dad. He managed and showed the movies when it was the Pussycat . Tom Taylor was his name. he later went on to show all those Kung fu movies thats when i was able to go with him. my punishment as a kid when mom was done with us was to go to the movies with my Dad.You dont know now that he pasted away last year how many memories this place brings back.From the old time booth with the dual projectors with the old reels of film he would have to rewind(those days are gone lol).From the scary back rooms behind the booth that scared my sister and I when we went thru them. went from a 7th grade reading level during one summer of subtitles to a 12th grade reading level hahaha. One really clear memeory was when a sign language film came in from Japan and a big plan was to bring in some hearing impaired kids to come down and enjoy a movie with sign language even one of our close friends signed up his sons school to go .Only one problem the sign language was in Japanese and no one could understand it all .100’s of deaf people talking loud during a movie wondering why they were there . My Dad was just laughning his ass off at the comical situation the best laid plans sometimes dont work out at all. I just found this sight and I lived most of my childhood at these places.Changing speakers at the Frontere Village Drive in or at the Capitol drive in .The Mereidian Quad in San Jose starnge way to be punished to have to go to the movies but 8 weeks of Herbie the Love Bug will make you listen to your mom hahahah Thanks fro helping me remeber him and what we had in my youth between the two of us Thanks
New book-length Pussycat Theatre history from the San Diego Reader:
View link
Camera One has been inhabited by the excellent San Jose art gallery, GalleryAD. From their website (www.galleryad.com):
“Yes, it’s true. After five of the best years we could imagine in a former iron works foundry throwing monthly art happenings, Anno Domini will be moving into the former Camera One Theater building on South First Street. Thanks to friends, artists, audience and city agency folks that believe in A.D., we have finally signed a lease for the new location to bring the gallery smack in the middle of the heart of the city.”
Best of luck!
Hello from Colorado!
My God Father owned the Pussycat Chain. I am putting together a collection of ANYTHING Pussycat to save befor all is lost. I am really looking for an old Pussycat Marquee. You know, the oval w/ the Ms. Pussycat and “It’s a Pussycat Theatre” PLEASE, if you have any information, let me know.
Thanks!
Tim David
970.309.3991